Tacos
December 20, 2023
My Favorite Mexican and Tex-Mex Bites of 2023
With visits to Mexico, New York, and New Mexico, this year might have been taco editor José R. Ralat’s best year of dining in a while, with nineteen dishes to prove it.
297 Articles
Made in Texas
December 8, 2023
Guayaberas Gone Wild
It may look as if San Antonio’s Javier Treviño is revolutionizing the traditional shirt, but he’s only making the most of the freedom it’s always represented.
Tacos
December 6, 2023
The Amazing Birria of the Great Mexican City You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Aside from its many cultural attractions, Aguascalientes is known for dishes like birria de borrego, bolillo con crema, and lechon tacos.
Tacos
November 29, 2023
Young Restaurants Close All the Time—But This Recent Loss in El Paso Really Stings
Two-year-old El Charlatan in El Paso was a James Beard semifinalist and one of the best restaurants in the state, according to our taco editor. But that didn’t stop it from falling to the typical foibles of new restaurants.
Tacos
November 22, 2023
The San Antonio Taco Trail
This Tex-Mex wonderland of a city has some of the best taquerias in the state.
Tacos
November 14, 2023
A Shared Faith Led Two Taqueros to Honor God With Guisados
The beginnings of Kingwood Taco Shop in Houston were a matter of divine timing, and, years later, the taqueria’s guisado tacos still taste heavenly.
Tex-Mexplainer
November 13, 2023
Meet Aguachile, Ceviche’s Hotter Cousin
Don’t take aguachile’s lightness for weakness. The spicy dish packs a punch.
Tacos
November 2, 2023
Meet the “Badass” Husband-and-Wife Team Behind This New San Antonio Taqueria
Even Wemby stopped by Tacos al Carbón Cabrón for its carne asada tacos. But the restaurant offers so much more than the typical Alamo City fare.
Tacos
October 26, 2023
My Midlife Crisis Is Getting Taco Tattoos
Or, really, any tattoos relating to the Mexican culinary experience. Now that I’ve gotten inked eleven times in nine months, I’m wondering why this form of self-expression is calling to me.
Tex-Mexplainer
October 18, 2023
Red, White, and Covered in Salsa: How Two Colors Came to Dominate Taquerias
You can thank an internationally famous soda brand and psychology for the classic red-and-white design of your favorite taco spots.
Tacos
October 11, 2023
A New San Antonio Taqueria Misses the Mark When It Comes to Tacos de Trompo
Tacos Vitali, which has two locations in the Alamo City, is the talk of the town, but it didn’t live up to the hype on my multiple visits.
Tacos
September 28, 2023
The Laredo Taco Trail
The border city has its share of troubles, but it also has a fascinating taco history that includes “mariachis” and the original barbecued brisket taco.
Tacos
September 21, 2023
When Hurricane Harvey Took Everything, a Houston Chef Turned to the Gulf and Opened a Taqueria
Dayatra Myers runs Fish Company Taco in Galveston, where the menu items rotate based on the availability of the fish, which leads to fresh and creative options.
Tacos
September 14, 2023
“You Shouldn’t Just Throw Anything on Whatever”: Why Recipes Should Be Specific About Tortillas
When working from a recipe, home cooks should have more guidance than just flour or corn. There’s a whole world of tortillas that matter.
Tex-Mexplainer
September 8, 2023
Mexican Sushi Is Rolling Across the Border
After Japanese laborers emigrated to Mexico in the nineteenth century, a culinary merger eventually resulted in nori stuffed with carne asada.
Tacos
September 5, 2023
Six Must-Try Taquerias and Restaurants in Puebla, Mexico
Order tacos árabes, cemitas, and chiles en nogada in this central Mexico city. Hurry for the last dish: You have two weeks before it goes out of season.
Tex-Mexplainer
August 31, 2023
Aguas Frescas Will Get You Through a Brutal Summer
Whether it’s creamy horchata or cooling cucumber, the various flavors of this sweet, refreshing drink act as potable air-conditioning.
Tacos
August 24, 2023
The Latest List of “Best Taco Cities in America” Sucks. Here’s Why.
The baffling ranking published by a real estate company has dubious data-gathering methods and eyebrow-raising results, with Austin as number one.
Tacos
August 22, 2023
Veracruz All Natural Moves Beyond Breakfast Tacos at Its New Full-service Restaurant
Offering aguas frescas, picadas, full plates, and conchas, Veracruz Fonda, in Austin, is what the brand should’ve been all along.
Tacos
August 15, 2023
The Nearly Forgotten History of the Viral Smash-Burger Taco
You’ve likely seen videos of the Big Mac–taco hybrid on social media, but the dish isn’t a newfangled fad—it has roots going back to the early 1900s.
Travel & Outdoors
August 10, 2023
Oaxaca Is More Than Mezcal and Mole
How to weave your way through this magical Mexican destination.
Tacos
August 10, 2023
This Busy RGV Taqueria Features Specialties From Mexico City and Spain
Order the gaonera (ribeye) taco or the cochinita pibil taco—just don’t linger too long at busy McAllen restaurant Tacos El Andaluz.
Tacos
August 2, 2023
Find True Mexico City–Style Tacos in This Dallas Gas Station
Neza York Con Todo, near south Oak Cliff, offers many Mexico City specialties, such as suadero cooked in a choricera and steamed cow head.
Tacos
July 28, 2023
What Makes the Allsup’s Burrito So Legendary?
It’s small-town Texas’s go-to convenience store snack. Texas Monthly’s taco editor finally gives it a go.
Tacos
July 20, 2023
Pachuco Culture and His Late Brother Inspire This Permian Basin Taquero
Ruben Carrasco Jr. serves Indian- and Korean-inspired tacos at his popular Midland spot Pachuco's, which he credits to an old PBS show and his little brother's adventurous nature.
Tacos
July 3, 2023
Six Mexican Hot Dogs to Try This Summer
Frankfurter season is here and what better way to indulge than with Mexican regional variations on the dish, which are often wrapped in bacon and topped with carne asada.
Tacos
June 29, 2023
Meet the Borderland Taquero Doubling Down on the Concha Burger
Luis Lara of Proyecto Humo has often felt like his ideas were too big for Laredo, but they’re exactly what the city needs.
Tex-Mexplainer
June 13, 2023
Defining ‘Guisado’ Is Just as Messy as the Dish Itself
While the term is most commonly translated as ”stew,” it's not wholly accurate. Guisados are more of a feeling of warmth and family.
Style & Design
June 8, 2023
This Popular Corpus Christi Gift Shop Is a Celebration of Latino Culture
Sew Bonita owner Elena Flores curates her store with makers from across Texas and beyond.
Tacos
June 5, 2023
The Texan’s Guide to New York Tacos
Yes, there are excellent tacos in New York City, and you don’t even have to search hard to find ’em. Here are a dozen spots to try.
Tacos
June 1, 2023
Inspired by His Luchador Father, This Taquero Serves Dishes That Pack a Punch
At El Tiger Taqueria, in El Paso, Jorge Ortiz offers his take on border food, which includes suadero flautas topped with bonito flakes and seaweed.
Tacos
May 23, 2023
Despite Immense Pain, the Folks Behind Warrior Taco Serve Joyful Fry Bread
Jennifer Scharen and her family serve marvelous versions of the Native American dish at their Pittsburg trailer in honor of her late husband.
Tacos
May 16, 2023
This Barbecue Pop-up Prides Itself on Its Stellar Tacos
Olmos Bbq, in Fort Worth, offers traditional brisket, sausage, and ribs, but pitmaster-taquero John Paul Govea knows it’s “the tacos that hit.”
Tacos
May 10, 2023
Taste a Dozen Guisados at This San Antonio Taco Joint
San Taco specializes in the comforting stews and braises, offering them on plates or by the pound alongside fresh tortillas.
Tacos
May 2, 2023
West Texas and South Texas Meet at This New Burrito Joint
Alfonso’s Breakfast Burritos in Duncanville, just outside Dallas, is already a local hit with comforting guisados wrapped in freshly made flour tortillas.
Tacos
April 25, 2023
Faith and Perseverance Drive This San Antonio Taco Truck
The women of Rosa's Kitchen have faced difficulty on the road to making their breakfast taco spot a success, but the challenges just make them work harder for their community.
Tacos
April 20, 2023
Ramen Del Barrio Is a Chef’s Love Letter to His Mexican Upbringing
Christopher Krinsky—a 24-year-old who grew up in the U.S. and Mexico and worked in Japanese restaurants—combines his influences in his Austin ramen counter.
Tacos
April 13, 2023
These Hearty West Texas Tacos Will Take the Edge Off a Hangover
Jiménez Tortilleria y Taqueria in Lubbock separates itself from the local pack by offering tacos filled with guisados and topped with fried eggs.
Film & TV
April 4, 2023
‘Blue Beetle’ Belongs in El Paso, No Matter What DC Brass Thinks
A new trailer reveals that the Mexican American superhero will live in a fictional city, breaking with canon. Comic book fans are not happy.
Tex-Mexplainer
April 4, 2023
A Head Above: How Barbacoa Paved the Way for Barbecue
Whether using lamb, beef, or goat, the cooking method of barbacoa is rooted in pre-Hispanic traditions and set the scene for smoking meat as we know it stateside.
Tacos
March 28, 2023
A German Taqueria Is Leading Europe’s New Taco Revolution
Berlin’s Taqueria El Oso honors Mexican cuisine with its suadero and tripas tacos, and, luckily, it’s just one of the continent’s stellar taco joints.
Tacos
March 20, 2023
Despite Its National Appeal, Chili’s Is a Dallas Restaurant Through and Through
Sure, the restaurant chain was founded in Dallas and is currently headquartered there—but the concept also embraces the Dallas identity.
Tacos
March 15, 2023
Kangaroo in Your Taco? “Why Not?” Says This Adventurous El Paso Restaurant
Taco Shop in El Paso has featured kangaroo, turtle, and alligator on its menu. While some are turned off by the game, many more customers line up to try them.
Tacos
March 8, 2023
This Tamale Company Infuses Its Popular Dish With Soul Food Flavors
Houston-based Black Girl Tamales' offerings include steamed masa filled with collard greens, oxtail, dirty rice, and shrimp.
Tacos
February 28, 2023
Jimmy Carter’s Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians
A local restauranteur created the dish to honor Carter's election, and it was just one instance of the importance of Mexican food in the former president's public life.
Tacos
February 23, 2023
Gen Z’s Homemade Tortillas Could Use an Upgrade
According to recent data, the youth love the commodity corn flour that's been around since 1949. But there are other options to explore.
Tacos
February 16, 2023
The Tacos at This South Texas Restaurant Are Inspired by the Taquero’s International Travels
La Cocinita’s Evin Garcia invokes tastes of southern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula in his McAllen eatery while also serving his community.
Tacos
February 9, 2023
The Rio Grande Valley Taco Trail
Where to find the region's specialties, from mammoth breakfast tacos to old-school barbacoa.
Tacos
February 6, 2023
How the Crispy Dog Became San Antonio’s Signature Snack
Invented by grandmas and popularized by drive-ins, the cheese-filled, tortilla-wrapped frank is a nostalgic treat that's disappearing from menus.
Tacos
February 2, 2023
We Asked ChatGPT to Define a Taco. Here’s What It Said.
The AI-powered chatbot has been making headlines recently, so we hit it with our hardest taco-related questions to test its mettle.